Office of Innovation News

JPEC Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition winners

Winners announced in the John Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellowship Alumni Michal Brzus and Emmanuel Akor both received $500.
Portrait of Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellow Vishuka Pathirana

Organic chemistry with an entrepreneurial outlook

Monday, April 28, 2025
Vishuka Pathirana, a second-year doctoral student in chemistry at the University of Iowa, addresses global issues by starting at the molecular level.
Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa.jpeg

Carver College of Medicine GAP Fund awards $85,000 to five faculty and staff teams

Friday, March 28, 2025
The Carver College of Medicine GAP Fund has awarded a total of $85,000 to five faculty and staff teams to advance the development of innovative medical devices and health software.
Mike Sneller in front of Protostudios case at MERGE coworking in Iowa City

From Metalworking to Medical Innovation: The Journey of Protostudios Prototype Engineer, Mike Sneller

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
When you first step into a prototyping lab, you might not expect to find an artist at the helm. But at Protostudios, Prototype Engineer Mike Sneller has proven that a fine arts background can be a powerful catalyst for medical innovation.
Two nurses put Droste Drape on base of OR bed.

Bringing nurses’ innovations to life

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Iowa Nurse Innovators, a program within the University of Iowa Office of Innovation, empowers inventive nurses to create solutions improving patient safety, workflow efficiencies, and effectiveness in hospitals across the state.
Robert Cargill Cities of the Bible Online Course

Bible & Archaeology launches online course, The Cities of the Bible

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
In this online course, Dr. Cargill provides learners with a tour of key cities and their representative peoples that made the greatest impact on the composition of the Bible.

Media Highlights

Courtney Smith_Nurse Innovators Graduation

UI Nurse Innovators Program helps nurses turn workarounds into products for industry

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
A little-known, not-taught facet of the nursing profession is the art of the workaround – taking something that isn’t working in the situation and making it fit for whatever the patient or fellow staff members need.
Photo of Melissa Bates, Co-Founder of LSF Medical Solutions

Iowa City medtech startup earns state support for lung-monitoring device

Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Iowa City-based LSF Medical Solutions, LLC is among a handful of early-stage companies receiving state funding support from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, following approvals granted May 16.
IPR Nurse Innovators

Nurse Innovators highlighted on IPR's River to River

Saturday, May 10, 2025
In celebration of National Nurses Month, River to River on Iowa Public Radio featured the Iowa Nurse Innovators program—highlighting how nurses across the state are driving change from the bedside.

Upcoming Events

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, July 15, 2025 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Join us on the third Tuesday of each month, June through October, for a rotating lineup of local food trucks at the Iowa Research Park.Take your food to go, or stick around and enjoy it with others! Indoor seating will be available in the BioVentures Center conference rooms, along with outdoor tables and chairs (weather permitting).2025 Schedule:June 17 – Maggie’s Wood Fire PizzaJuly 15Aug. 19 – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQSept. 16Oct. 21 – Maggie’s Wood Fire Pizza Stay tuned for additional...
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQ promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQ

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Join us on the third Tuesday of each month, June through October, for a rotating lineup of local food trucks at the Iowa Research Park.Take your food to go, or stick around and enjoy it with others! Indoor seating will be available in the BioVentures Center conference rooms, along with outdoor tables and chairs (weather permitting).2025 Schedule:June 17 – Maggie’s Wood Fire PizzaJuly 15August 19 – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQSeptember 16October 21 – Maggie’s Wood Fire PizzaStay tuned for...
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park  promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Join us on the third Tuesday of each month, June through October, for a rotating lineup of local food trucks at the Iowa Research Park.Take your food to go, or stick around and enjoy it with others! Indoor seating will be available in the BioVentures Center conference rooms, along with outdoor tables and chairs (weather permitting).2025 Schedule:June 17 – Maggie’s Wood Fire PizzaJuly 15August 19 – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQSeptember 16October 21 – Maggie’s Wood Fire PizzaStay tuned for...
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park – Maggie’s Wood Fired Pizza promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park – Maggie’s Wood Fired Pizza

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Join us on the third Tuesday of each month, June through October, for a rotating lineup of local food trucks at the Iowa Research Park.Take your food to go, or stick around and enjoy it with others! Indoor seating will be available in the BioVentures Center conference rooms, along with outdoor tables and chairs (weather permitting).2025 Schedule:June 17 – Maggie’s Wood Fired PizzaJuly 15August 19 – Rodney's Jamaican Jerk & BBQSeptember 16October 21– Maggie’s Wood Fired PizzaStay tuned for...

Past Events

AI in Healthcare Symposium promotional image

AI in Healthcare Symposium

Thursday, June 20, 2024 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Courtyard Mariott University Heights
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the health care industry, with AI-powered medical innovations playing an increasingly important role in diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. However, with this innovation comes a new set of regulatory hurdles. Join the University of Iowa Office of Innovation for the AI in Healthcare Symposium, where industry pioneers and national policy experts will delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by starting and scaling AI-powered...